Founded in 1975 by J. Scott Thornton, TRI began as a small research and development company. Since it’s founding, TRI has grown to 13 employee owned small businesses employing over 120 scientists, research and support personal around the world.

Many of the TRI companies perform applied research, product development and testing in a wide variety of physical and organic sciences while others focus on education, communication and relative technologies. Our laboratories serve compressed air, geosynethtic, geotechnical, erosion control, plastic pipe, and protective clothing industries among others.

TRI companies have vast experience with contracted research and development projects for government agencies including the Department of Defense, and the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program. We also work closely with a broad range of private sector clients.

Once products and technologies are developed, we evaluate and execute the appropriate business models to best ensure success. Our business models include internal business development, partnerships, licensing agreements and outright technology sales.

Each business has a unique focus often with overlapping and supporting interests, a structure that creates a successful synergy for TRI.

The primary TRI campus is located on 20 acres in the Austin hill country.

Texas Research International supports each of it’s small companies by providing access to corporate level services. Friendly faces in the front office, a fully degreed accounting department, a top tier security compliment IT department,  in-house IS, and a corporate quality department, all help TRI companies deliver professional, world class science and innovation to their clients.